Prep Talk
Hermits Head to the OK State for SAVI 2019
Posted October 29th, 2019
Six St. Augustine Prep students including Michael Reed, Jackson Tinari, Mason Medolla, Greyson Sapio, Nicholas Galinus and Tim Kubiak participated in the Student Augustinian Values Institute (SAVI). The contingent of students were accompanied by Mr. Joe Zagarella and Fr. Patrick McStravog.
Cascia Hall served as this year’s proud host allowing the several students to make their first trip to Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Student Augustinian Values Institute or SAVI was inaugurated in 2010 to help students understand the connections between Augustinian Education and the defining Augustinian Charisms of Veritas, (truth) Unitas, (Unity) and Caritas, (Love) the foundation of Augustinian Common Life and Ministry. In addition, it facilitates the ability of students to see, explore, and recognize these core values as they are expressed in our sister schools, both academically and spiritually. 
The unity and brotherhood experienced over those days helped to foster an experience of common identity and purpose among the 60 young men and women from the 10 participating Augustinian High Schools from the United States and Canada.
On their return to their school communities, each group was tasked with promoting those Core Values of Augustinian identity in their respective schools through various creative measures instigated by the 6 returning students and the participants from the previous 2-3 years.
This annual event is sponsored and paid for by the 3 American Provinces of the Order of St. Augustine, the Eastern province (St. Thomas of Villanova) the Midwest province (Our Mother of Good Counsel) and the California Province (St. Augustine) each school is only tasked with covering the travel expenses of their team.
The Augustinian Schools in Attendance:
- Austin Catholic, MI
- Austin Prep, Reading, MA
- Cascia Hall – Tulsa, OK
- Malvern Prep – Malvern, PA
- Providence Catholic – New Lenox, IL
- St. Augustine Prep – Richland, NJ
- St. Augustine – San Diego, CA
- St. Rita of Cascia – Chicago, IL
- Villanova Prep – Ojai, CA
- Villanova College – King City, Ontario
This year’s group has already used their experience to make a positive impression on the school community. Proud participant Tim Kubiak mentioned, “I was honored to represent the Prep at this year’s SAVI but felt even more rewarded learning about how special it is to receive an education rooted in Augustinian Values.”
